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BATH RUGBY: Garvey looking further than play-offs

MATT Garvey wants Bath to look forward, rather than over their shoulders, as they try to turn a season of huge promise into one with a glittering conclusion.

With three games to go in the Aviva Premiership campaign, Bath are five points clear of Harlequins who they travel to face on the final week of the regular season on May 10.

Flanker Garvey has urged Bath to wrap up a play-off spot before that potentially decisive Stoop showdown, but is also demanding the squad set their sights a lot higher.

“Stu (Hooper, club captain) spoke to us in the week that throughout the season we’ve been on a journey, but we can’t say that now,’’ said the 26-year-old.

“We’re at the business end now and we need to prove to people that we’re a top four side, that we can be in the final.

“It’s about proving to other people that we’re not just holding on to the spot we’ve got but we’re going to push on, it’s a statement of intent.’’

Garvey was one of the Bath players yellow-carded in last Saturday’s fractious West Country derby – a match the former London Irish man admits fell into the surreal category.

“It was something I’ve never experienced before, if I’m honest. It was the weirdest game I’ve ever been involved with, but we got the bragging rights and, more importantly, it was about the points for us.

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“We’re playing for a top four spot and the way the boys dug deep up there reflected well.

“Obviously we were all aware of what happened on the Friday night with the Quins-Sale match that Harlequins won 27-12, which was an important one, but the important thing was it was in our hands. It’s up to us to lose it now, if we just keep winning our games I don’t think they can catch us.

“If we can keep winning hopefully it can be done and dusted by the time we go there for the last game, because that’s a hard place to go to, the Stoop, needing points.

“If we can keep picking up wins and making it hard for teams coming here, hopefully by the end of the season we will be where we want to be.’’

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